Seahawks work to overcome inexperience

August 27, 2011

Maintaining their four-year streak of appearing in the state playoffs could be a challenge for the Cape Coral Seahawks, who were 10-2 and a regional semifinalist last season.

Gone are 30 players who had a hand in winning 21 of 24 games over the past two seasons. If any area team deserves the tag of starting over, it is the Seahawks.

"We only have one returning starter on defense," said Seahawks coach Brad Metheny, "and only four back on offense."

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MICHAEL PISTELLACape High lineman David Martin negotiates a low angle blocking drill in an early preseason workout.

Senior T.J. Giles fills one slot on both units - defensive back and wide receiver. Kyle Young, a three-year starter, and George Ocasio, a two-year starter, fill line slots while senior Dustin Thibadeau returns to the backfield.

The rest of the defensive unit will be filled mostly by JV experienced players on the line and in the backfield. Junior Jay Smith is the most experienced lineman among sophomore Sam Hunter, junior Zach Hedberg, and seniors phil Brownson and Ocasio.

"I really don't know what we have yet," said Metheny. "We have to wait and see when we get the pads on."

The offense falls into the lap of junior quarterback Kurt Benkert (6-foot-3, 185), who transferred to Cape from Maryland and got his first exposure to the Sea-hawks playbook for the spring game.

"He's a great kid, a 4.0 student," said Metheny. "He has learned the system better than he had in the spring."

Thibadeau and Calhoun, a transfer from Cypress Lake, and Bobby Sibert, a transfer from Dunbar, make up the rest of the offensive backfield along with an occasional contribution from Zadarian White.

As many as 10 players could see time at receiver positions, headed by Giles. Most of the plays likely will come from juniors Rashaan Gaymon, Ian Maccallum, Kyle Fischl and probably Sibert.

The Seahawks have a completely new set of district rivals, thanks to the FHSAA's two-year reassignment plan. They are grouped with East Lee County, Lehigh, Cypress Lake, Estero and Mariner in District 5A-11 for the next two years.

"It's a very difficult schedule," said Metheny. "We only have four home games. The last half of the schedule is brutal and we have rivalries with North Fort Myers in the opener and Ida Baker and two district games in the first half. We gotta come in ready to play."

The Seahawks indeed must be ready to play right with the season-opening kickoff at rival North Fort Myers on Sept. 2, followed by spring game opponent and rival Ida Baker in the home opener on Sept. 9.